London’s Calling the Eagles

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - As expected, the Eagles are finally set to invade the United Kingdom in 2018.

The Eagles will play in London as the road team against UK regular Jacksonville next season.

The official announcement was made on Thursday and was expected ever since NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood explained to ESPN earlier this season that he was attempting to get the final six teams that hadn’t played across the pond overseas in 2018.

The Eagles were in that group but their deal to get Lincoln Financial Field done included playing all their home games in South Philadelphia, meaning any international game would have to be a road affair from schedule-building purposes.

The Jaguars have made London their second home in recent years with 2018 serving as the sixth straight year they will have played a home game in the UK, the first five at Wembley Stadium.

The Jags and Eagles will also be at Wembley on either Oct. 21 or Oct. 28. The entire 2018 NFL schedule will be finalized in April.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen